Making the Connection

To create a computer network, you must use some type of connective medium that allows the transfer of your data. This medium can range from copper cable to microwave transmissions to a beam of infrared light (our discussion of network media will be restricted to copper and fiber-optic cables, with the understanding that there are a lot of possibilities for moving data from one point to another).

After you choose a connective medium, such as copper cable, you also need a device that can prepare the data on the computer so that it can travel along your network cabling. This data restructuring is handled by a network interface card (NIC). A NIC is typically placed in one of the computer's bus expansion slots and then the network cable is attached to a port on the NIC. Understanding how the NIC works, and your options as far as copper and fiber-optic cabling, will go a long way when you have to sit down and design even the smallest networks.